Clouds are ... Classification and interesting facts

A myriad of droplets of water, raised up with the help of heated air, the clouds are, roughly speaking, condensed steam. Everything happens because the atmosphere is warmer at the bottom than at the top. Because of this, the steam cools and condenses. But for this process, it is necessary to have the smallest dust particles, to which molecules of water adhere. Therefore, the clouds are also a little dust, called condensation grains.

It is interesting that:

• Air can contain quite a lot of water vapor, as they say, being supersaturated, but due to the absence of dust condensation does not occur to the drops, and no clouds form;
• Clouds, illuminated by the rays of the sun, only appear white, in fact they come in a variety of colors and shades;
• The cloud may appear dark gray, almost black, due to soot particles (most often this happens in industrial areas).

Atmospheric fronts

Often clouds form intensively in areas where cold and warm air collide. These bands are commonly called atmospheric fronts. A cold front occurs when warm air is rapidly pushed upward. As a rule, cold weather follows. If the warm air slides smoothly over the cold masses, a warm front is formed, and - as a consequence - warm weather. And in that, and in other fronts clouds are generated (cooling of air leads to this). Any of the atmospheric fronts can bring a change of weather.

The water cycle

In nature there is an infinite cycle of water masses. The sun heats the surface of the earth or water, the liquid passes into a gaseous state (evaporates), rising upward. The moisture-laden air cools at the top, since the temperature is lower, cools, the steam condenses, forming clouds. Water from the clouds falls to the ground as precipitation. To the question: "Are the clouds a living or inanimate nature?" - one can answer: "Inanimate". Since they consist of dust and water, not related to living organisms.

What kind of clouds are there?

By their classification, clouds are divided into several varieties, differing from each other both in morphology and in appearance.

Cirrus

They consist of elements in the form of thin white feathers, elongated ridges, shreds. They have a silky shine and a fibrous structure. Formed in the upper troposphere, at an altitude, as a rule, 6-8 kilometers, sometimes higher. The length is up to several kilometers. Cirrus clouds are ice crystals (in their structure), which have a low fall rate. Characteristic for the front edge of the warm front. Sometimes there are cirrostratus and pinnately-cumulus.

Peristococumulus

Everyone knows "lambs". They, as a rule, have a spherical shape, elongated in a line. The height is 6-8 kilometers. The length is 1 kilometer. They are harbingers of a rise in temperature. On the sea - harbingers of a storm. They do not precipitate out of them.

Porous-layered

They have the form of a shroud, homogeneous and whitish. They are relatively transparent (through them you can see the sun or the moon). These are clouds of the upper tier.

Layered

Form a homogeneous, fog-like layer. As a rule, they are located at a height of 100 meters, sometimes lower. Usually close the whole sky. The lower edge can descend low, merging with the above-ground fog. Of these clouds precipitated in the form of drizzle.

Cumulus

Dense, white, with a vertical arrangement. Height on the lower border - up to a kilometer or more. The thickness is one or two kilometers. The upper part is made in the form of towers or domes. As a rule, they are formed in neutral and cold air masses.

Cumulonimbus

Powerful and dense, vertical shape. Cumulonimbus clouds are the next stage of development of the cumulus. Of these, there are usually heavy rains with powerful thunderstorms, sometimes hail. Often form a line, called the line of squalls. Their structure is mixed. Below - droplets of water, above, where the temperature is below zero, ice crystals are formed. The lower boundary is up to two kilometers (the lower tier of the troposphere).

Intermediate stages

There are transitional variants described by the science of clouds: Altocumulus, high-layered, layered-rain, stratocumulus. They carry the signs of different kinds of clouds.

Silvery

Of the recently discovered - silver (discovered only in the 19 century). They are formed at high altitude: up to 80 kilometers. Well observed after sunset and before sunrise.

Pearly

Clouds of characteristic color, formed at large (20-30 kilometers) heights. They consist of small ice crystals.

Tubular

Their structure resembles a cellular, tubular shape. They occur exclusively in tropical latitudes, quite rarely, and are associated with the formation of tropical cyclones.

Lenticular

Clouds in the form of lenses. Formed on the ridges, between layers of cold and warm air. They hardly move, even in strong winds. Usually they can be seen at the mountain ridges on the leeward side (altitude from 2 to 15 kilometers).

Pyrocumulative

Cumulus or cumulonimbus associated with the onset of volcanic activity or fire. The fire here creates an ascending flow of air, which leads to condensation in the clouds. Lightning and thunder are also possible. And then under the clouds there are new fires.